As it continually evolves its Awards process, The Recording Academy today announced amendments to eligibility rules in the Best New Artist category, the Classical Field, and for Recording Academy-produced performances. These new guidelines will go into effect immediately for the upcoming 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards on Feb. 13, 2011. The total number of GRAMMY categories remains 109.

"Every year, we diligently examine our Awards process to ensure that it remains relevant within the current musical landscape," said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy. "These eligibility amendments recognize present trends in music and our Board of Trustees continues to demonstrate its dedication to keeping The Recording Academy a pertinent and responsive organization in our dynamic music community."

Eligibility Amendments

Best New Artist
New artists have at least one chance to compete in the Best New Artist category, provided that the artist has not already won a GRAMMY. The current eligibility requirements state that the artist must have released, as a featured performing artist, at least one album but not more than three; and the artist must not have been entered for Best New Artist more than three times, including as a performing member of an established group. Any previous GRAMMY nomination for the artist as performer precludes eligibility in the Best New Artist category (including a nomination as an established performing member of a nominated group).

These rules remain in effect with the following exception: If an artist/group is nominated (but does not win) for the release of a single or as a featured artist or collaborator on a compilation or other artist's album before the artist/group has released an entire album (and becomes eligible in this category for the first time), the artist/group may enter this category in the eligibility year during which his/her/their first album is released.

More and more, the first release of a new artist is as a featured artist on someone else's album, or the new artist may release a single long before the release of his/her/their entire first album. By current rules, if the other artist's album or the new artist's single receives a nomination, the new artist may never have the opportunity to compete in the Best New Artist category. With this change, each artist will have at least one opportunity to enter in this important and highly visible category.

Classical Field — Eligibility Of Special Releases
The current rule states that all entries in all fields and categories must be previously unreleased and newly recorded. For purposes of eligibility, The Academy defines "newly recorded" as product that has been recorded within five years of the release date and not previously released. The only categories that allow entries not newly recorded are: Best Historical Album (intended specifically for older recordings provided they are straight reissues), Best Compilation Soundtrack Album, Best Recording Package (if package is new), Best Surround Sound Album, and Best Album Notes (if notes are new).

This rule remains in effect with the following addition: Multi-disc (boxed set) releases in the Classical Field that contain 100 percent previously unreleased material, employ a single artist or ensemble only, and contain the work of a single composer only will still be allowed if more than 51 percent of the whole was recorded more than five years previous to the release date.

As the bicentennials of several big-name composers approach, there are more multi-year projects in which a single artist or ensemble is recording a complete cycle of a particular composer's works (i.e., complete string quartets, complete symphonies, complete flute sonatas). Rather than releasing one disc at a time as they are recorded, the artists and/or labels are choosing to wait until the cycle is complete and release a multi-disc set. These projects may run 10 or more years and may constitute what is essentially the life's work of the artist. Such efforts should be eligible for GRAMMY consideration in the eligibility year within which they are released.

Producer Of The Year, Classical
The current rule states that a minimum of three separately released recordings are required to qualify for entry in this category. A multi-record set of a single work is considered one recording. A maximum of five albums, released for the first time during the eligibility period, may be listed.

In parity with the Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical category, the new rule changes the minimum number of albums for Producer Of The Year, Classical from three to one. (Minimum track entries for Classical are not necessary, as almost all Classical albums have only one producer or a team that works on the project as a whole.) A producer must have production credits for 51 percent or more playing time of the album in order for it to qualify. If the album is self-produced, production credits must include at least one recording for a different artist. Minimum qualifications may be satisfied by combining a producer's solo efforts with his/her team efforts. Producers may enter as a team only if they have worked together exclusively during the eligibility year. Not more than six recordings may be listed on the final ballot. (If more than six are entered, the producer will make the final decision in consultation with awards staff.)

This change was made in fairness to classical producers, to remain consistent with the other producer category, and in recognition of classical production realities. Currently, the Producer Of The Year, Classical category requires a minimum of three separately released recordings for entrants to qualify. In the non-classical category, one album or six tracks is all that is necessary to qualify.

Recording Academy-Produced Performances
In recent years, performances on GRAMMY telecasts have been made available for commercial purchase via online digital media stores such as iTunes. According to current general guidelines, these digital releases may be submitted for GRAMMY consideration. To maintain the integrity of The Recording Academy and to be completely impartial in our Awards process, all GRAMMY telecast performances — and all performances recorded during any Recording Academy, Latin Recording Academy, GRAMMY Museum, GRAMMY Foundation, or MusiCares event — are ineligible for GRAMMY consideration. Any such submission will be deleted during the verification process with notification sent to the entrant.

These changes were voted on and passed at The Recording Academy's recent semiannual Board of Trustees meeting. The Trustees of The Academy, along with Academy senior staff, Chapter Regional Directors, Executive Directors, and Chapter Presidents, met with agendas designed to strategically chart the course of The Academy. 
 

Victoria Monét has won Best New Artist at the 66th GRAMMY Awards.

Tearfully accepting the award, the rising R&B star gave an eloquent speech in which she compared herself to a plant growing out of the soil of the music industry. 

“My roots have been growing underneath ground, unseen, for so long, and I feel like today I’m sprouting, finally above ground,” she said.

Monét beat out Gracie Abrams, Fred again.., Ice Spice, Jelly Roll, Coco Jones, Noah Kahan, and The War and Treaty for the award. It was given out by last year’s winner, Samara Joy.

She really puts in the work and she is being rewarded now more than ever for it," producer D'Mile, who has known Monét since the beginning of her career, recently told GRAMMY.com. "She grows more and more confident and sure about what she's aiming for as she continues her journey."

This was not Monét’s first win. Her album Jaguar II won Best Engineered Album and Best R&B Album earlier in the day during the GRAMMYs Premiere Ceremony.

Keep checking this space for more updates from Music’s Biggest Night!

2024 GRAMMY Nominations: See The Full Nominees List

Just last year, Samara Joy joined Esperanza Spalding and Norah Jones as the few jazz musicians to win Best New Artist in the 21st century. As pianist Geoffrey Keezer noted, Joy's win is a reminder that the genre "is still a part of [music], and it's important, and it's where it all came from."

In this episode of GRAMMY Rewind, revisit the moment Joy accepted her golden gramophone at the 2023 GRAMMYs.

"I've been singing my whole life," she said. "Thank you so much for this honor. Thank you to everyone who listened to me or supported me."

"I've been watching y'all on TV for so long," Joy tearfully cooed to the audience. "To be here because of who I am — all of you have inspired me because of who you are. You express yourself, exactly who you are, authentically."

Before exiting the stage, Joy praised her record label, Verve, management, and other members of her team. Joy was a two-time winner that night, also taking home the golden gramophone for Best Jazz Vocal Album for her second studio album, 'Linger Awhile.' She earned her third nomination at the 2024 GRAMMYs, a Best Jazz Performance nod for her self-produced track "Tight."

Watch the video above to see Samara Joy's complete acceptance speech for Best New Artist at the 2023 GRAMMYs. Check back to GRAMMY.com for more new episodes of GRAMMY Rewind, and tune into this year's show on Sunday, Feb. 4, airing live on the CBS Television Network (8-11:30 p.m. LIVE ET/5-8:30 p.m. LIVE PT) and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on-demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on-demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the special airs).

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Joaquina won the Latin GRAMMY for Best New Artist at the 2023 Latin GRAMMYs.

Borja, Conexión Divina, Ana Del Castillo, Natascha Falcão, Gale, Paola Guanche, Paola Guanche, Leon Leiden, Maréh, and Timø were the other nominees in the category.

Along with Paola Guanche, Joaquina is an alumnus of Julio Reyes Copello's Art House Academy; she graduated last year.

The Venezuelan singer/songwriter was taken under the wing of Reyes Copello — the Latin GRAMMYs Producer Of The Year winner from 2022.

Joaquina has since flourished with her debut EP, Los Mejores Años. Therein, she explores teen ennui with the melodic, anthemic title track and the emotionally searing "Rabia."

Check out the complete list of winners and nominees at the 2023 Latin GRAMMYs.

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After winning 24 Latin GRAMMYs prior to this year, Colombian rock star Juanes was tapped to take on the role of an elder statesman at the 2023 Latin GRAMMYs. 

On the stage in Sevilla, Juanes performed with the 10 nominees for Best New Artist: Borja, Conexión Divina, Ana Del Castillo, Natascha Falcão, Gale, Paola Guanche, Joaquina, León Leiden, Maréh, and Timø.

With vocal back up from the the brightest new voices in Latin music Juanes rendered a stirring performance of his emotional single "Gris" from his 2023 album Vida Cotidiana. In recent years, Juanes has explored a variety of sounds in his music, including traditional Colombian sounds such as cumbia. This year, he returned to his roots in rock with the intensely personal full-length album, which was inspired by the complexities of his marriage and family life during COVID-19 lockdown.

Juanes’ number was a satisfying full arena rock moment, complete with dazzling lights and artistic video projection of the song's lyrics. The power ballad has a somber and aching tone, and with the chorus behind him the feeling of the song rang out loud and clear.

The record came out in May to critical acclaim and has received nominations for both Album Of The Year and Best Pop/Rock Album, categories Juanes has won multiple times in the past. The "La Camisa Negra" singer is nominated in the Best Rock Song category for "Gris," as well.

Vida Cotidiana is also nominated for Best Latin Rock or Alternative album at the 2024 GRAMMYs, alongside worlds from Cabra, Diamante Eléctrico, Natalia Lafourcade, and Fito Paez.

2023 Latin GRAMMYs: See The Complete Nominations List